Bolivia to legalize more coca production

LA PAZ, Boliva

President Evo Morales says his government is ready to expand the allowed production of coca, the basis of cocaine as well as of some legal products.

Morales told a gathering of coca growers late Monday that he had "no problem" with a proposal to decree an expansion of expand legally permitted coca production to 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) from the current 12,000 (29,700).

The issue has caused friction with U.S. officials who have campaigned to wipe out coca growing as part of their battle against international drug trafficking.

Morales, who himself rose to prominence as a coca growers' representative, has pledged to fight cocaine trafficking while trying to expand the market for legal uses of coca, such as traditional herbal teas.

It was not clear if Morales could expand the coca area by decree or if he would have to ask for legislative approval.

A 1988 law stated that legal coca growing areas could be expanded only by law, not decree, but President Carlos Mesa in 2004 authorized an expansion to 15,200 hectares (37,600 acres) without going to Congress.

Morales said expanded production would be used for commercial projects such as coca tea bags.

A U.N. study estimated that Bolivian coca crops cover 25,400 hectares (62,800 acres), most of it illegal. Much of that is grown in the Chapare region of central Bolivia where Morales spoke on Tuesday to coca producers who still consider him their union leader.

"If the government committed ourselves to have at least 20,000 hectares of coca, it impossible to commit ourselves to something that does not meet the promise to the people," he said, referring to earlier vows to authorize expanded production.

U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg has said that U.S. officials are increasingly worried about the growth of coca crops, 90 percent of which, they say, end up as cocaine.